Method of packaging cigarettes and construction of cigarette package



Oct. 13,1959 1- UT 2,908,421

R. K. S O METHOD OF PACKAGING CIGARETTES AND CONSTRUCTION OF CIGARETTE PACKAGE Filed July 13. 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR 45 (1),, (SEGA/LE ATTORNEY R. K. STOUT KAGING 0F CIG Oct. 13, 1959 2,908,421

METHOD OF PAC CIGARETTES AND CONSTRUCTION ARETTE PACKAGE Filed July 13, 1954 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 I; 1 E INVENTOR BY a a I ATTOELEY Oct. 13, 1959 R. K. STOUT '2 908 421 METHOD OF PACKAGING CIGARETTES AND CONSTRUCTIOAI OF CIGARETTE PACKAGE 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed July 13, 1954 lflflflrlhlljl' AffiuallllllllilllllllllllaIIIAIII I 1 i IN VENTOR n n n n W a I ATT RNEY 2,908,421 Patented Oct. 13, 1959 NIETHOD OF PACKAGING CIGARETTES AND CONSTRUCTION OF CIGARETTE PACKAGE Raymond K. Stout, Dayton, Ohio Application July 13, 1954, Serial No. 442,973

6 Claims. (Cl. 221-208) My invention relates broadly to cigarette packaging and more particularly to a method of packaging and structure of cigarette package facilitating the Withdrawal of cigarettes from a cigarette package.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide a method of packaging cigarettes which facilitates the with drawal of the relatively tightly-packaged cigarettes from a cigarette package.

Another object of my invention is to provide a construction of cigarette package by which the act of opening the cigarette package serves to withdraw the first of the cigarettes from the package to a position in which the cigarette may be conveniently grasped and'picked out of the package. 7

Another object of my invention is to provide a construction of package for cigarettes having a hinged cover thereon which, when raised, serves to partially eject one of the cigarettes from the pack to facilitate Withdrawal thereof from the adjacent packed cigarettes.

Other and further objects of my invention reside in the construction of dispensing package for cigarettes, described more fully in the specification hereinafter following by reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a cigarette package constructed in accordance with my invention, the view being partially broken away and shown in section for illustrat' ing the manner of seating one of the cigarettes in a stirrup preparatory for elevating the cigarette from the package as the top of the package is raised;

Fig. 2 is a view of the cigarette package after the ripped band, which encircles the top portion of the package, is removed and preparatory to the raising of the lid of the package;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the cigarette package with the lid removed and the coacting parts thereof illustrated in juxta-opposed positions, with the cigarette package partially broken away and illustrated in section for more clearly illustrating the coaction of the stirrup with the associated parts of the lid;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the ribbon-like stirrup in which the first cigarette in the package is seated;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view of the end portion of the cigarette package in which the stirrup is located and showing particularly the parts of the metal foil Wrapper moved to open position;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the hinge which connects the lid with the metal foil wrapper or liner of the cigarette package;

Fig. 7 is a cross sectional View through a portion of the lid illustrated in perspective;

Fig. 8 is a view of the sealing strip by which the terminating ends of the stirrup are secured to the lid;

Fig. 9 is a vertical sectional view through the complete cigarette package in closed position but with the rip band removed, showing the coaction of the stirrup with the hinged lid, the parts being shown schematically and slightly spaced to avoid confusion;

Fig. 10 is a view similar to the view shown in Fig.

9, but illustrating thecigarette package in open position and showing particularly the manner in which the first of the cigarettes is automatically ejected preparatory to withdrawal from the package;

Fig. 11 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially on the line 1111 of Fig. 9;

Fig. 12 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially on line 12-12 of Fig. 9;

Fig. 13 is a vertical cross sectional view showing a modified construction of cigarette package embodying my invention;

Fig. 14 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 14-14 of Fig. 13;

Fig. 15 is a vertical sectional view similar to the view shown in Fig. 13, but illustrating the cigarette pack in open position with one cigarette therein partially ejected and the cover about to be torn 01f Fig. 16 is a view similar to the views shown in Figs. 13 and 15 but illustrating the cover severed from the package after the first of the cigarettes has been ejected therefrom;

Fig. 17 is a perspective view of the stirrup used in the form of my invention illustrated in Figs. 13-16 and illustrating the manner in which the upper portion of the stirrup is torn oif simultaneously with the tearing of the cover from the cigarette package; and

Fig. 18 is a perspective view of the metallic foil liner used in the cigarette package of the construction illustrated in Figs. 13-17.

My invention is directed to an improved method of packaging cigarettes whereby 'the opening of the cigarette package automatically ejects the first of the cigarettes from the package facilitating the withdrawal of the cigarettes from the package.

I provide a metal foil wrapper beneath a protective cellophane wrapper which includes a lid which when raised serves to automatically open the metal foil wrapper and simultaneously raise a stirrup attached to the lid. The stirrup extends downwardly into the cigarette package and serves as a seat for one of the cigarettes in the package, which cigarette is raised simultaneously with the movement of the lid, from the packed cigarettes, a sufiicient distance to elevate the seated cigarette where the end thereof may be grasped and withdrawn from the package thereby facilitating removal of the subsequent cigarettes from the package. In a tightly-packed cigarette package it is often inconvenient to remove the first of the packed cigarettes. The method of packaging and construction of package of my invention eliminates these mconvemences.

Referring to the drawings in more detail, reference character .1 designates the metallic foil liner .1 of a cigarette package 2 which is sealed within a cellophane cover 3. The cigarettes within the package are indicated generally at 17. The first cigarette, which is ejected by hinged movement of the lid 3a of the cellophane cover 3, is

shown at 16 seated in stirrup 14. .The metallic foil liner 1 is folded and sealed at the top thereof as represented at la. Adjacent one end of the top of the package the metallic foil liner is formed into three foldable sections 1b, 1c and 1d which fold into mutually overlapping relationship as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2. The customary revenue stamp indicated at 6 serves as a seal for binding the parts of the metal foil liner into sealed relation with the cigarette package 2. A rip band 4 of contrasting color with respect to the cigarette package 2 encircles the top portion of the cigarette package and is adhesively secured thereto for one complete turn around the package with the end 4a left hanging free. The cellophane cover 3 entirely surrounds the sealed package and is provided 3 with a lid 3a which is connected at the end 3b thereof with the body portion of the cover 3 and which is folded at 30 and serves to seal the cigarette package. A vertically extending slit 5 is providedinrthe upper, portion of the cover 3 through which the free end 4a of the rip band 4 extends. By grasping the 'free end 4a of the rip band 4 and moving this band in a clockwise direction around the cigarette package the cellophanecover 3 is severed from the lid 3a leaving a narrow cut-out zone represented at 7 in Fig. 2. The lid 3a secured to the folded section 1d of the package liner is now pulled upwardly from the position represented in Fig. 9 to the position shown in Fig. 10.

The structure of the metallic foil parts 1b, 1c and 1d, represented more clearly in Figs. 3 and 5, is .such that these parts are unfolded with the hinged movement of the lid 3a because of the hinged connection shown at 9 interposed between the top end section 10 and the end 3a. The hinge 9 includes two superimposed parts shown at 911 and 9b. The part 9a is adhesively connected with the fiat end portion 10 of the metal foil liner 1. The part 9b of the hinge 9 is connected to the undersurface of the lid 3a adjacent'the end 3b thereof. The end section 10 of the metallic foil liner is slotted at 8 and there are aligned slots 10 and 11 in the portions 9a and 9b of hinge 9. There is a further aligned slot 12 in the hinged lid 3a.

The stirrup 14, consisting of a narrow flat band of tough paper or cloth, extends downwardly into the cigarette package and has the terminating ends 1411' and 14b thereof extended through slot 8 in the folded portion 10 at the end of the liner .1 and through the aligned slots 10 and 1 1 in the parts of the hinge 9 and through aligned slot 12 in lid 3a where the terminatingends are fastened by a sealing strip 15 which is adhesively extended over the top of the lid 30. The sealing strip 15 serves as a reinforcement for the connection of the extremities 14a and 14b of the ribbon stirrup :14 with the hinged lid 3a. The arrangement of the several parts is such that the upward movement of lid 3a exerts a pull force on part 10 of the metal foil wrapper 1 through the agency of the hinge 9, thereby pulling the ribbon stirrup 14 upwardly for ejecting the cigarette 16 seated therein a sufficient height as represented in Fig. 10 for enabling the end of the cigarette to be grasped and readily withdrawn from the tightlypacked group of cigarettes. After the first cigarette is withdrawn from the tightly-packed package the balance of the cigarettes are readily withdrawn in the conventional manner due to the increased space made available by the withdrawal of the first cigarette from the package. After the selected number of cigarettes has been withdrawn from the package the metal foil parts 1b, 1c and 1d may be readily refolded in position with or without the lid 3a still attached at 3b to the cellophane cover 3 for preserving the balance of the cigarettes in the package. The stirrup ribbon 14 may be formed from a narrow band of fabric, plastic or tough paper. The ribbon stirrup has a width less than one-half the diameter of the cigarette which is seated in the stirrup formed thereby and has a thickness which is so minute as not to take up any appreciable packaging space within the cigarette package.

In Figs. 13-18 I have illustrated a modified form of my invention in which the special hinge 9 is wholly eliminated and the hinge connection between the cover and the package wrapper formed 'by a continuity of the cover and the wrapper. In this modified form of my invention the metallic foil liner 1 is constructed as represented more clearly in Fig. 18 with a horizontal row of slits extending around one end and two sides of the package as represented at 18, immediately below the three foldable sections 1b, 1c and 10!. In this arrangement the stirrup is represented at 19 as having a row of horizontally extending perforations 19a and 19b therein located at the distance below the lid .3a which substantially equals .the extent of ejection of the cigarette 16 from the adjacent cigarette 17 when the lid 3a is pulled up as represented in Fig. 15. The upper ends 19c and 19d of the stirrup 18 pass through the slot 8 in section 10 of the cover 3a and are fastened to the cover 3a between section 10 and the undersurface of cover 3a in such manner that as cover 3a is raised, fold 1c is also raised, thereby unfolding sections 1b and 1d of the coacting foldable sections. There is no hinge structure involved except the continuity of the lid 3a with the cellophane cover 3 of the package. The section 10 of the liner 1 serves as an initial hinge with respect to the body portion of the liner 1 when the cigarette package is first opened as represented in Fig. 15, at the time that the cigarette 16 is raised in stirrup 19 to a position above the adjacent cigarette 17 where the end of the cigarette may be readily grasped and removed from the package. The opening force which is applied to lid 3a is suflicient to raise stirrup 19 and elevate the end of cigarette 16 which forces through the folded sections 1b, 1c and 1a. The continued force to which cover 3a is subjected is sufiicient to tear the lid 3a from the cover 3 and sever stirrup 19 at the perforations 19a and 19b, leaving the upstanding end of the cigarette 16 in a position to be grasped and readily withdrawn.

While I have described the construction of the cigarette package and the method of opening the same in certain preferred embodiments, I realize that modifications may be made and I desire that it be understood that no limitations upon my invention are intended other than may be imposed by the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is as follows: I

l. A cigarette package comprising an enclosing wrapper including a foldable cover formed by coacting foldable cover sections movable to superimposed positions for closing the top of the package and movable to positions substantially coplanar with the sides of said wrapper when the package is open, a lid having a severable connection with the upper extremity of said wrapper with the undersurface of said lid attached to the coacting foldable cover section, at that end of said wrapper, a stirrup ribbon attached to said lid adjacent the connection of the said last mentioned cover section with said wrapper, said stirrup ribbon extending downwardly in a loop into the cigarette package and providing a seat for a cigarette with a multiplicity of cigarettes in said package, whereby a pull exerted on the free end of said lid for moving said lid about the end connection thereof with said last mentioned cover section raises said last mentioned cover section and the stirrup ribbon attached to said lid and elevates the cigarette seated in said stirrup ribbon above the ends .of the adjacent packed cigarettes for facilitating the grasping of the projecting end thereof and removal thereof from the cigarette package.

2. A cigarette package as set forth in claim 1 in which said stirrup ribbon establishes lineal contact with the opposite sides of the cigarette seated in the stirrup ribbon and wherein said stirrup ribbon has a width less than one-half the diameter of the cigarette seated in said stirrup ribbon.

3. A cigarette package as set forth in claim 1 in which the upper extremities of said stirrup ribbon extend through the foldable cover section Which is attached to said lid and securing means for adhesively uniting the extremities of said ribbon with said lid and with said last mentioned foldable cover section.

4. A cigarette package as set forth in claim 1 in which the foldable cover section which is attached to said end is apertured in a position substantially over said stirrup ribbon and wherein the opposite extremities of said last mentioned stirrup ribbon pass through said apertured foldable section and are adhesively secured to said lid and to said last mentioned foldable cover section.

5. A cigarette package as set forth .in claim 1 in which the foldable cover section which is attached to said lid is apertured in a position substantially over said stirrup ribbon and wherein the opposite extremities of said last mentioned stirrup ribbon pass through said apertured foldable section and are adhesively secured to said lid and to said last mentioned foldable cover section, and a sealing strip extending over the top of said lid for uniting the connection of the extremities of said stirrup ribbon With said lid.

6. A cigarette package as set forth in claim 1 in which the attachment between the foldable cover section of said Wrapper and said lid consists of a U-shaped foldable strip having the surface of one end thereof adhesively connected with the top of the last mentioned foldable cover section of said wrapper and the surface of the other end thereof connected with the undersurface of said lid, said last mentioned foldable cover section of said wrapper and both ends of said strip all having aligned apertur% therein for the passage of the extremities of said stirrup ribbon, the extremities of said stirrup ribbon extending through said lid and both ends of said strip and terminating at the top of said lid, and an adhesive strip extending over the top of said lid in alignment with said extremities of the terminating ends of said stirrup ribbon for securing said ends of said stirrup ribbon to said lid in a position aligned with the surface of said strip which connects with the undersurface of said lid.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,343,360 Frost June 15, 1920 2,072,796 Christopher Mar. 2, 1937 2,347,381 West Apr. 25, 1944 2,701,053 Tamarin Feb. 1, 1955 FOREIGN PATENTS 151,830 Switzerland Mar. 16, 1932 

